Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Welcome: Smart Living in Perth Solar City
Welcome: Smart Living in Perth Solar City
In this issue:
• Welcome • Central Victoria Solar City hits the
Issue 5 • Smart Living in Perth Solar City road
• Power to the people in Moreland
June 2010 • Solar reputation shines at Alice
Solar City
Springs Airport
• Magnetic Island Solar Suburb Trade • Efficient business in Blacktown Solar
Expo City
• Spotlight
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Central Victoria Solar Power to the people in
City hits the road Moreland Solar City
More than 500 people attended community Small gas-fired power plants at Moreland’s pools could
presentations in 14 municipalities in Central be the model for cheaper, cleaner and more efficient
Victoria during February and March, showing the energy generation across Melbourne.
region has a strong interest in taking local action The Moreland Energy Foundation (MEFL) is
on climate change. The presentations contained working with Moreland City Council to develop a trial
information on Central Victoria Solar City offers cogeneration plant for local leisure centres which
for residents, which comprise a number of would generate all the electricity needed and use
different packages. waste heat to heat swimming pools. The Fawkner
The solar packages were popular amongst Leisure Centre is being considered as one possible
attendees. The solar hot water and two kilowatt site for a combined gas-fired heat and power
(kW) household solar electric systems were generator.
offered at 10 per cent off the retail price. Since
then, prices on these systems have been further
reduced thanks to the support of one of the
consortium members, Origin.
There was also strong interest from Bendigo and
Ballarat residents in the solar park trial. Ballarat
resident Roland Nam picked up information
about the solar park package. “I think it’s great
that there’s a solar park in Ballarat. Every town in
Australia should have one.” Above: The Fawkner Leisure Centre
Many residents were interested to learn how they “The UK and Europe are way ahead of us on this,
might improve or upgrade existing household but the technology has fantastic potential here,” said
fittings and fixtures to reduce household energy MEFL’s Bruce Thompson. “It’s 80-90 per cent more
use and potentially lower their energy costs efficient than tapping into coal generated power
with the retrofit package. A comprehensive and we could have plants like this across Moreland,
energy efficiency retrofit assessment, report and powering and heating community facilities, schools
generous participation bonuses are key elements and hospitals, and apartment blocks.”
of this package. Many European cities have shown that decentralised
Other ways to get involved in the project include energy units emit less greenhouse gas emissions and
signing up for the energy audit package, the save energy through reduced transmission costs.
smart rates package, or the full suite package. “It’s a bit more complicated here than in Europe, where
See www.centralvictoriasolarcity.com.au to find there’s major heat demand most of the year. The
out more. major barriers to date are regulatory and infrastructure
issues,” said Bruce.
As part of its Moreland Solar City program, MEFL
will set up an energy services function, a special
entity to develop decentralised energy generation by
bringing together funding and technical expertise and
identifying suitable sites.
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Efficient business in Spotlight
Blacktown Solar City
Blacktown Solar City continues to promote the goals In this column, we introduce
of the Solar Cities program by assisting businesses to someone involved with Solar
become more energy efficient. Cities and learn about their role
The Business Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP), run in the program. In this issue we
by consortium partner Big Switch Projects is one way meet Dario De Bortoli from Origin
businesses are being made aware of energy efficiency Energy who is the Adelaide Solar City Project
savings. So far Big Switch Projects have signed up 14 Manager.
companies to BEEP, from a variety of business sectors. How long have you been working on the Adelaide
Companies have joined BEEP because they are Solar City project?
interested in reducing their environmental impact and I’ve worked on the Adelaide Solar City Project
recognise that energy efficiency makes good business since 2007 when I was asked to help develop
sense when faced with rising energy costs. time of use and demand management tariffs
and in-home display technology for Origin’s cost
reflective pricing trial. Since the launch in 2008,
I’ve been the Project Manager.
What issues do you deal with in a typical working
day?
My typical day can be quite varied as the project
has many diverse and innovative aspects. The
Adelaide Solar City team is small so we all tend
to pitch in to keep the project progressing. A lot
of my time is spent working closely with the team
and consortium members to provide them with the
Above: Office building owned by new information and assistance they need to keep our
BEEP partner Ford Land Company trials and photovoltaic installations on track.
What excites you most about your Solar City?
The program involves the completion of an Australian
Adelaide Solar City is introducing some very
Standard Level Two energy audit. The audit looks
exciting electricity products and technologies.
at the end use of electricity and natural gas at the
Many of these can be seen in Origin’s Smart
business site, the amount of energy supplied and what
Rates trial which is combining cost reflective
the energy is used for. It also identifies areas where
pricing, smart metering and in-home display
energy savings may be made and provides details of
technologies to understand more about consumer
the estimated capital cost, savings, financial returns
energy use patterns and behaviours.
and greenhouse gas savings.
What energy saving measures have you
Energy efficiency opportunities have been identified
undertaken in your own home?
in areas such as lighting and controls, air conditioning
and controls, hot water use, manufacturing processes, Our household has always taken energy
compressed air and energy performance of office efficiency measures. The kids help reduce
equipment. unnecessary energy use by switching off their
computer and bedroom lights when they’re not
As the program progresses, patterns and findings will
needed. We have also set rules on the weekend
continue to be collected. One early indication of note is
and holidays around when the air conditioners
that the majority of consultations result in the business
and heaters can be used so that we are not
choosing to implement no cost or low cost measures
unnecessarily running appliances.
due to the required return on investment. Findings
and lessons learned from Blacktown Solar City’s
Business Energy Efficiency Program will continue to
provide a valuable insight into what businesses know
about energy efficiency and the level of participation in
energy efficiency programs.
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